women, our consultations revealed that Koori
women exiting prison generally only use two
transitional programs Konnect and WISP.
these services.
is a gender specific service.
based approach to addressing the diverse needs
of Koories exiting prison" to prepare them for
release and reintegration into the community.
address immediate needs upon release from
prison, such as transport from prison and
provision of food and telephone vouchers. While
Konnect does not provide housing, Koori women
stated that they have had very short-term motel
accommodation (generally a few days) on release
through Konnect.
accommodation options.
It provides pre and post-release case management
support to prepare prisoners for their release and
transition back into the community.
people into services. However, Koori women
indicated that WISP had too few workers. This
resulted in long delays and waiting lists before they
were linked into service providers. Again, there is a
lack of focus on housing.
that the same service provider Brosnan (Jesuit Social
Services) delivers them.
a gender appropriate transitional service.
Focus group interview, 6 March 2013.
In 2010 Jesuit Social Services were awarded statewide
delivery of support services to Aboriginal men and
women, women exiting Tarrengower and Dame
Phyllis Frost Centre, and men exiting Dhurringile and
Beechworth prisons. Jesuit Social Services are now
the only statewide provider of support services to men
and women exiting prisons. See, Jesuit Social Services,
Women's Integrated Support Program. <http://www.jss.
org.au/programs/justice-and-crime-prevention/wisp> at
18 July 2013.
straight release once they have completed their
entire prison sentence or from remand. When
released on straight release the women explained
that they have a `clean slate', as they do not have
to adhere to parole conditions. On straight release,
there are no formal supports for ex-prisoners who
are ineligible for transitional services.
release in 2011. I was not given any
services on release. WISP said that
I was not suitable for their program.
That's the problem with straight
release, you get no support.
Strait Islander women are the least likely, of all
offender groups, to engage with appropriate housing
and support services post-release, particularly if
they have dependent children. Therefore, they return
to prison faster and at a higher rate than others do.
prisoners to reintegrate successfully into
the community and reduce the likelihood of
reoffending. Established under the Corrections
Act
parole, making decisions relating to the granting,
revocation and cancellation of parole and
overseeing prisoners' supervised release into
the community.
months imprisonment, Victorian courts ordinarily
fix a non-parole period as part of the sentence.
This means, when the non-parole period of an
offender's sentence has been served, the APB has
discretion to release the offender to the community
to serve the remainder of their sentence on
parole in the community under the supervision of
Community Correctional Services.
decision of the APB and prisoners do not have
legal representation at an APB hearing.
Eileen Baldry et al, `Needs Analysis Report', above n
62, 9.
State of Victoria, Sentencing Advisory Council, Review
of the Victorian Adult Parole System Report (2012) 14.